Cup dispenser



1 623,353 Plll 5 1927' J. w. MccARTl-IY CUI DISPENSER Filed Nov. 8, 1925l /1 27 INVENTOR 22M '24 26 2f 22 l /a I I!! Il BY A y [325 /g TORNEYvyPawnee Apr; 5, '1927.

. y 1,623,353 f P ArsNrorl-*l-CE.

J'OHN w. MUCARTHY, oF LocxroRT, NRw YORK, AssIGNoR, RY MESNRASSIGNMENTS, To voRTRx MFG. co., on cHIcAGo, ILLINOIS, A coRroRA'rIoN oFILLINOIS.

4GUI DISPENSER.

apneation ,mea November s, 1923. serial No. '673,510.4

This invention relates to dispensers for paper Cups'and with respect toits more specific features to devices for dispensingflexible conicalpaper cups from a nestof such cups, and whether the cupshave or have notprojections, or flanges, at their mouths.

, One object ofthe inventionis the prol vision of a simple. relativelyinexpensive and compact device for readily and efficiently dispensingconical paper cups one by one from a closely nested column withoutinjury n to the cups; also. one that will4 operate .n

flanged aswell as unlanged cups. .p Other objects of the invention willbe in part obviousand will in part appear here# inaffer'.

The invention accordingly comprises the' features of construction,combinations of elebe exemplified in the construction hereinafter setforth and the scope of the application ofwhich will be indicated in theclaims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the inventionreference shouldy be had to the following detailed description taken `inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which: Y Figure 1- is aview of the dispenserin elevation, parts' being broken away 'andsectioned to disclose interior construction,

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section showing the cup support and the cupdrawing mechanism of the dispenser as viewed at right angles 'to Fig. 1,Y

Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views, partsbemg brokenv away, to showx interiorconstruction, Fig. .4, in dotted lines, showing the gri-ppers in openand in closed position,

Fig. 5 isa vertical section through the' cup supporting ring, andshowing one form of the fingers of such ring.-

Referring now more specifically to thel drawing, the frame'of thedispenser comprises an annular bracket 1 which may be horizontallyldisposed and providedwith a bracket 'supporting lug 2 adapted toengage afixture 3 secured to a Waller table or-the like., The numeral 4indicatesthe cup support which, in the embodiment illustrated, consistsof a flanged portion of the. bracket 1, this portion having an "opening5 -therethrough for the passage of the cups and also having a seriesof-rigid fingers 6 projecting toward the center of the opening 5.Preferably the fingers 6 are rounded peripherally a cup is drawndownwardly from the cup ing thus facilitated and injurythereto bef adrawn cup 'as illustrated at 7 When unflanged cups 'are ito bedispensed, the inner faces of the Y fingers as illustrated at 8 in Fig.5. The numeral 9 represents a ring havin a flange 10 for restingy uponthe upper dge of the bracket 1to support the ring 9 removably withinthe' bracket 1; The numeral 11 indi` 65 cates a cover. or dome, whichmay 'be of glass, closed at the top and held in the ring 9 in anysuitable manner.. One of the paper cups to be dispensed is indicatedat'12 in ,dotted-lines, these cups having conical side--70A walls, theside walls the cups illustratedy coming to -a pointer apex 13. Thediameter at the mouths of the' cups is greater than the diametricaldistance between opposite fingers 6, so that the cupsV aren'adapted tohe'75 disposed in the opening 5 with their side walls resting againstthe fingers 6. In this position the mouths of the cups are above thefingers 6 and the greater portion of the conical side wall of the4lowermostcup is 30 exposed for the operation of cup-drawing mechanismhereinafter described. -Between the fingers 6, the flange 4. ispreferably cut away or recessed to such .an extent that when supportingfingers.' the conical wall of the cup may flex into the spaces50 betweenarl- ]Iacent fingers 6, the drawing of the cups beingf avoided.

`The numeral 13 indicates a lower rigid an# nular frame plate `having anvopening .14 Y through which the cups are discharged. The

numeral 15 indicates cup-'arresting fingers or lugs on the inner edge ofthe platel, projecting into the opening 14. and serving, in connectionwith the remainder of the inner periphery of the annular plate, toarrest in convenient position to be taken hold of by the hand of theuser. The upperbracket 1 andthe lowerv plate 13 may be connected in anvsuitable manner.- In'the present instance they areA connected by therigid rods 16 and 17 which depend from the under face of the bracket 1,and have shouland 17 and are enclosed byapcircumferential 110 'j .ders18 and reduced screw threaded ends- 19 v On the lup er face of theannular plate13 ing of ping. The grippers 32 are rigid metal mem. castintegrally with their at29 to 'a head or are thestan ards 22 and 23providing bearings for the power shaft 24, which latter may extendoutside the wall 21 and be provided with a crank or handle 25 forrotating the same and thereby actuating .the cup drawing mechanism. Onthe inner end of the shaftl24 is a crank O26 having acrank pin 27. inpivotal engagement with the end of-a gripper actuating member, orconnecting rod 28,`which latter is in turn pivoted block reciprocalalongside the cup path and in the zpresent embodiment. guided by oneofthe rods 16 and another and parallel rigid rod 31 depending from thebracket member 1 and.l supported in a recess in the'upper face of`thegstandard 22, as illustrated Vin Fig. 1.k

The numerals 32- indicate the body portions ofcup'gripprs having sleeves33 by which theyvare pivotallyimounted for oscil` lation on the rods 16and 31 transversely of the cup path, the grippers'being alsosimultaneouslyreciprocally translatable along Saidrods to effect-cupdrawing'and positionthe grippers for subsequent cup gripbers which maybe sleeves 33 and with upper bearing eyes 34 also engaging the rods 16and 31. Thusa` .long bearing .is -provided for the grippers so as to'maintain them in predetermined relative position as on the guide rods 16and 31.. 0n the sleeve gripper actuating, or gripper turning,

33 of -eachgripper is a dog 35 withwhich the connecting rod 28cooperates to effect oscillation of the grippers on their axes, or-guide rods 16 and 31.

Caraied .pivotal plate 36 adapted to move with and relative to theconnecting rod. Cap screws 37 are threaded inthe plate 36 and passloosely through the connecting rod 28, spi-'ings'38 being interposedbetween .the heads of these screws and the 'connecting'rod 28. In theembodiment illustrated', the connecting rod is provided with recesses inwhich the springs 38 lie. When the various parts are assembled-the v,dogs 35 lie between the. plate 36 and the connecting rodv 28, the latterlbeing recessed as at 51, if desired, -to accommodate said dogs. Thegripper body, the connecting rodl28, the

A, head or Iblock30 and the `guide rods 16 and and; projecting grippers,1 which 31 are of substantial rigid material, preferably metal, so thataccurate positioning of the parts give', if any.

'f Inoperation a column'i'of closelyl nested conical Apaper cups will beset with thellowerinost cup su portedby the fingers 6 latter should beAopen at there be any tendency they" oscillate and translate t y nsequently be removed. by the connecting rod 28 iS a may be relied uponwithoutundue ownwardly between the.

that timef- When the Shaft 24 is rotated, the

latory axis will cause the plate' 36 to'be pressed against radialdogs 35and effect cup approaching movement ofthe grippers and cause the softfaces of the' grippers resiliently to be pressedagainsttheoutsidelateral wall of the lowermost cup of the column, thesprings 38 being stressed by movement of rod 28 upon gripping contactwith cup. Should the cup wall give unduly or'should for the grippers, on

their drawing movement, to separate from the cup'wall, the springs 38will a'ct to move the giippers sufiiciently inwardly, So as resiliently'to maintain grip on -the cup and resiliently resistreceding movementbetween the grippers when acup is being drawn. 'The head 3() as the head30 reciprocates on the guide rods 16 and 31, the gripp'ers ciprocatetherewith. As the connecting rod 28' moves downwardly, the grippershaving been moved intoA Contact with the cup, the

51 contacting with and moving the dogs 35, thus freeing the gripped cupand permitlies between the sleeve 33 and the bearingv eyes 34 of thegrippers so that)0 simultaneously l reting itto drop into the opening 14where itl is caught by the fingers 15and maysubofthe grippers have'soft,

' The bodies 32 frictional, resilient, cup gripping faces 40 and 41,relatively softrubber bands being employed in practice, and in thepresent embodiin'ent, the body portions'32 are concave to providereentrant cup tions, the soft, frictional, gripping faces. 40

a 21.1.0 centering body porand41\ of each gripper prolecting from thebody 32 and being disposed at different distances from the axis ofoscillation of the gripper. Inthe present embodiment, the body portionof each' gripper and the frictional faces referred to incline toward thelongitudinal axis. of the drawing path in`the direction of* cup drawing,and-- the 'reentrant body portion of each gripper is of such peripheralextent paththat it cooperates with its compapion gripper foalinost fullyenclosethe cup to grippers, although moving in arcuate transverselyofthecup axis, 'do notdisturb- `correctly positioned'cups and'tend to coop-`:transversely of thecup* be drawn. In' this wise'the two vcooperative.1215

paths' be occasioned by some untoward happening.

The construction disclosed herein is an iniproved form of the dispenserdisclosed in the copending application of'lla'rold Carle Serial No.367,060, filed March 19, 1921).

Since certain changes may be made in' the above construe-tion andditfcrent embodiments of the invention could be -made without departingfrom the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in theabove description or shown in the accomgrippers,

panying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrativeand not in alimiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is: v

1. A cup dispensei' comprising a container for a stack of nested cups,gripper mechanisms, means for oscillating the saine in a horizontalplane transversely of the cup path, and means adapted to be operated tocause saidV gripper mechanisms to be recipi'ocally translated to effectcup drawing and positioning of the gripper mechanisms for subsequent cupgripping.

2.' A cup'dispenser comprising a container t'or holding a stack ofnestedcups, a vertical support therebelow, cup grippers thereon, meansfor oscillating the grippers at right angles to said support to effect agripping and then a release operation of said and friction pads on saidgrippers at diierent distances from the axes of oscillz tion of thegrippers.

v3'. A cup dispenser comprising a container for a stack of nested cups,pivoted cup grippers, a connecting'rod connected therewith,

i a. crank connected with said connecting rod,

and a handle for actuating said crank to cause the cap grippers tooscillate to grip and pull a cup from the container and then :releasethe cup.

`tor a column ot' nested cups, stationary axes mounted therebelow,grippers pivoted on said axes, a member connected to reciprocategrippers on said axes. means for operating said ineinhcr to cause thegrippeis to oscillate transversely of said axesand means coupling saidAmember with said grippers including dogs on said grippers. and acooperating plat-e on 'said member.

5. A cup dispenser comprising a support for a stack of nested cups,stationary guides, cup grippers slidahl \y and pivotally mounted on saidguides, a gripper actuator head reciprocal alongside said guides andcoupled to effect reciprocal movementof said grippers, a connecting rodpivoted to said head, a. crank coupled to reciprocate and oscillate saidconnecting rod, and operative connections between said connecting rodand said grippers to cause operation of said connecting rod to effectpivotal movement of said grippers.

6. A dispenser of the class described comprising a support for a4 stackof nested cups, stationary guides. cup pivotally mounted thereon, agripper actuating head reciprocal alongside of said guides and coupledyto effect reciprocal movement of said grippers. a connecting rodpivoted to said -Joint W. MCCARTHY.

4, A cup dispenser coinl'irising a support the grippers slidahly and l

